‘Honesty is the best policy.

’ 

Describe an experience when this was true for you.

The proverb ‘honesty is the best policy’ advises people that it is better to tell the truth than to
lie. I have always believed in the proverb. When I was about eleven years old, my honesty
saved two friends’ lives.

Charlotte has been my best friend since we were very young. We are extremely intimate and do
everything together. Her father passed on when she was three years of age and she lives with
her mother and elder sister. Since the demise of her father, her mother is the sole breadwinner
of the family. Although Charlotte’s mother does all she could to bring up Charlotte and her
sister, Charlotte tells me that her mother is extremely strict with them. At times, she is so
harsh that they find it hard to accept her ways.

Unfortunately one day, Charlotte and her sister had a big argument with their mother. The next
day, Charlotte told me that she and her sister planned to run away from home. I felt really
uneasy about their plan. I persuaded them against running away and to think twice before they
acted. In spite of my persuasion, Charlotte told me that they had already made up their mind.
When I asked her where they were planning to stay, she replied to say that they would stay at
the abandoned house at the edge of the forest. She also said that I could go and visit them but
I must not tell anyone about their hiding place. She also sworn me to secrecy.

That very night, Charlotte and her sister ran away from home when their mother was sound
asleep. The next day when she discovered that they were missing, she was worried sick.
Apprehensive about their safety, she lodged a police report. The police formed a search party to
search for the sisters but their efforts were in vain. In desperation, she asked me whether I
knew where they were. Although I did, I said I had no idea of their whereabouts in order to
keep the promise that I made to the sisters. Their mother was disappointed at my reply and I
felt guilty about lying to her.

The following day, I went to visit Charlotte and her sister. It was a wet morning as it had been
drizzling since daybreak. Upon arriving at the place, I was taken aback to see the bad state of
the dilapidated wooden house, which stood in a bleak and desolate landscape. Many parts of
the house were rotten and its roof was leaky. The sisters, who appeared to be pale, were glad
to see me. Even though they were tired, weak, thirsty and hungry, they pretended that they
were happy to live in the house.

After visiting them, I felt sorry about their living conditions. Although I promised to bring them
some food and drinks, I went to see their mother instead. I apologised to her and told her the
truth. All at once, the huge weight of keeping the secret and lying were lifted off my shoulders.
Their mother could not be more grateful to me. Accompanied by the police and me, she went to
fetch her daughters from the house. By the time we reached there, the sisters were almost
dying of dehydration and starvation.

Albeit Charlotte was angry with me for breaking the promise, she eventually forgave me and
realised that I was actually doing the right thing. She and her sister thanked me for doing them
a favour and saving their lives. Their mother promised to be more reasonable and she does live
up to her promise. Until today, I still believe that ‘honesty is the best policy’.